MASTER MOI{OGRAPH

NEOPHYTE SECTION
Thlr monograph always remalrur the property of thc
Supreme Grand Lodge of A. trf,. O. R. C. It Is not
purchased by, but loaJred tq tJre receivlng'member,

ROSICRUCIAN ORDER
AMORC

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 THE CONCURRENCE
This Veekts Consideration of a Famous Opinion
VVV
{ It is indeed unfortunate that there are those schools
of philosophy which endeavor to negate the importance
of the malerial world and deny that it has a function
or place in the cosmic plan. Man need not falsely
glorlfy the material, but he must admit that it has a
'We,
f lurpose or be irrational in his conception of life. as Rosicrucians,
shall learn to comprehend the marvelous laws of nature as manifest in matter. We
shall better k.,ow ihe mortal body with which we are clothed. With the coming of
an appreciation of the physical world, we shall bring-The into closer- harmony our two
natuiei and life will b6come an ecstatic existence. need for this interesting
study of nature's laws and the purpose of material creation is beautifully touched
upo, b"lo* in the words of Wlliam Ellery Channin,g, theologian. and philosopher.
Ai we progress in our studies, you may concur with the thoughts he expressed.

Matter was made for spirit, bodg for mind. The mind . . . is the end of
this liuing organizaiion'of flesh and bones, of nerues and muscle-s; and
the end i1 tnis uast sgstem of sea and land, and air and skies. This un'
bounded creation of iun, and moon, and stars, and clouds,-and.seasons,
was not ordained merelg to feed and clothe the bodg, but first and
suprernelg to awaken, nourish, and expand the soul, to be the-school 9f
the intellect, the nurse of thought and imagination, the field for the
actiue powers, a reuelation of the Creator, and a bond of social union.
We ari placed in the material creation, not to be its slaues, but to master
it, and to make it a minister to our highest powers. It is interesting to
obserue how much the material world does for the mind. Most of the
sciences, arts, professions, and occupations of life, grow out of our con-
nection with matter. The natural philosopher, the physician, the lawger,
the artist, and the legislator, find the obiects or occasions of their re-
searches in matter. The poet borrows his beautiful imagerg from matter.
The sculptor and painter express their noble conceptions through matter.
Material- wants iouse the world to actiuitg. The material organs of
sense, especiallg the ege, wake up infinite thoughts ,in the mind. To
maintain, then, that the mass of men are and must be so immersed in
matter, that their souls cannot rise, is to contradict the great end of their
connection with matter. I maintain that the philosophg which does not
see, in the laws and phenomena of outward nature, the means of awaken-
ing mind, is lamentablg short-sighted; and that a state of societg which
leaues the mass of men to be crushed and famished in soul bg excessiue
toils on matter is at war with God's designs, and turns into means of
bondage what was meant to free and expand the soul.

-WM. ELLERY CHANNING, 1780.1842

Neophyte Section#MORC 'The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER THREE PAGE ONE

Respected Neophyte:
Before beginning our instructions this evening we wish to answer
a few questions, some of which have been asked by students in previous
cIaSSeS.
Some members have asked whether, when receiving copies of this
monograph and of future monographs, they should read them before
Thursday night, or whatever time they have chosen for their study
period, or hold them for the regular occasion and read them in their
special sanctums. Now we do not wish to place limitations on your
studies or on your enthusiasm. lYe were Just as enthusiastic as you are
when we first contacted this Order and its wonderful teachings. We can
appreciate your desire to read and study as often and as rapidly as pos-
sible. We were fortunate, however, in not being able to secure the
Iessons faster than one a week and since then we have always been
happy that it was so.
It is far better to work slowly, as you are doing, and. to read
your lesson on the regular night each week when you are alone, as
arranged the first week. Remember there is more to this work than the
mere reading of words or the taking, from each paragraph, of the
thoughts conveyed by the words. There is the subjective or mental
attunement, the unseen companionship, the harmonious relationship be-
tween you and hundreds of others who are also in their homes sending
forth similar vibrations and uplifting thoughts.
When you receive your monograph, open it as soon as you can and
look at the first page to see whether there is some special hour
arranged for part of your weekly practice; then you can put away the
monograph and save it for study on your regular sanetum night, after
you have made any special arrangements that are suggested. 0ccasion-
ally, there may be a special communication enclosed with your mono-
graph, and such material should be read as soon as you receive 1t, rather
than being hetd until your regular sanctum night.
We are greatly pleased with the letters that come froo our mem-
bers. Not only are the lessons praised, but the letters show that you
members realize the work that is being silently and subtly done on
these special nights each week. 0nly the foundation is being laid now
and soon you will realize that you have been slowly and surely evolving
into and within a great circle of Iight, health, and happiness.
COSMIC Now for the study. In our last monograph we con-
ENERGY sidered the fact that vibrations are responsible
for the knowledge we have of all matter. It is common
sense, it is logical to say that if athing exists onlybecause
Neophyte Section-A MORC 'The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER THREE PAGE TWO

something else exists, then that thing owes its existence to the other
thing. If matter could not exist except because of vibrations, then
aII matter owes its existence to vibrations.
There are two forms or natures of vibrations according to Rosi-
crucian thought; those which emanate from the CENTRAIJ UNMRSAIJ F0RCE
or energy and those which are set into motion by mental or psychic
impulses. Just now, in this monograph, we are studying the vibrations
of cosmic energy, the vibrations of the great force whlch pervades aII
and gives life, or manifestation, to all things; we are not dealing with
mental vibrations at present.
Matter in any form, in every form, owes its existence to the
various primary elements which compose it. A book of any kind is ca1led
a book because of certain elements which compose it, and we recognize a
book by noting that it is composed of these definite elements. A book
is composed of sheets, the binding which holds the sheets together,
and the cover which holds them. Now the sheets, the binding, and the
cover constitute IHREE elenents. Nothing is a book which does not
have these three elements. The sheets of paper alone, whlch are one
of the elements, do not make the book. Before the sheets are printed
they are stacked up in piles in the print shop, but that does not make
the pile of sheets a book.
The covers also are often seen piled up, but they do not make a
book. It is only when these certain elements are united that we have
a BOOK. Therefore, a B00K 0VfES IIS EXISTENCE T0 THE EITEMENTS WHICH
C0MPOSE IT and the arrangement of the elements. The same principle
applies to the composition of matter. AII matter-5ush as lead.,
silver, gravel, sand, water, wool, flesh, gas, or any one of the myriad
forms of matter-owes its existence to three elements which compose
it. Ihese three, called the primary elements, consist of a certain
limited number of cells formed by vibrations. (The word element here
is not to be confused with such chemical elements as iron, zinc, and
sulphur. We use the word element to allude to the three conditions
which compose aIl elements of matter and aII material substance.
Ihe outward expression of matter does not indicate that it is
composed of any definite kind of elements, unless we know the principles
of elements and the nature of vibrations and their chemical action.
In water and in stone is found the same I'UNDAMENTAIJ ENERGY. In flesh
and in gold are the same vibrations, but of a different number,
a different rate of manifestation. Just as in a book called the
Atlas and in a book called a dictionary there are the same ele-
,"rr1 5-paper, binding, and covers-so in aII f orms of matter
there are the same fundamental principles.
Neophyte Section#MORC The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER THREE PAGE THREE

Some books may have yellow pages and a red cover, some may have
a black cover and white pages, and so on; yet no natter how the pages
may appear to us, white or yellow, blue or green, fundamentally they
are PAGES. So with matter. A stone may appear to us to be different
from wood, and it is different, but the DIFFERENCE IS ONIJY IN ITS
MANII'ESTATI0N T0 US. However, there is no difference at all in the
fundamental substance of its elements.
The fundamental principle back of each element in all matter is
the same. The fundamental principle is the FIRST GREAT PRINCIPLE, or
the FIRSI GREAT P0V{ER, which we calI SPIRIT. (PIease note, as previous-
ly said, that this has nothing to do with the rrspiritn force spoken of
by spiritists or in religious organizations. As declared previously,
we are not dealing with Soul or Self now but with the primary essence
of aII creation. )
Please write in your notebooks the following Iaw:
THE PRIMARY PRINCIPIJE BACK OF AIJIJ CREATION IS THE ENERGY
CAIJLED SPIRIT.
Having the above law, let us discuss Spirit,
Ihis great force radiates through space. Its radiations are in
the forms of vibrations. These vibrations cross each other, move at
different rates, and form natter on the earth p1ane. Thus every
piece of matter-slsns and wood., glass and metal , flesh and plant,s-
contains this spirit energy, because all these things are formed by
the vibrations of this Spirit energy. Because every material thing
is formed by VIBRATING SPIRIT, the articles themselves also vibrate.
It may be hard for you to understand that every piece of wood in your
sanctun, in your home, and everywhere else, is ACTUAL,IJY VIBRATING
with Spirit energy; but this is true. You cannot put your finger tips
on a piece of wood and feel the vibrations, neither can you feel the
magnetism coming from a horseshoe magnet, nor can you feel the sounds
in the air as they Ieave the piano and come to your ears, but aII things
do vibrate-they vibrate inwardly between the particles that make
them up, and they vibrate outwardly thereby enabling us to see them,
to know them. This outward vibration has an effect upon light. It
varies the vibrating wave lengths of 1ight, causing the different
visual sensations we have as form and color.
These vibrations in aII naterial things are very rapid-
thousands of vibrations per second-vibrating so fast they
cannot be counted by the most delicate machines except under
certain electrical- conditions when the vibrations are divided
in groups. Ytre will learn of some specif ic manifestatlons.
Neophyte 5""1ion4MORC The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER THREE PAGE FOUR

Because every material thing is in vibration, it causes the air

and the electromagnetic conditions of space to be filled with vibrations.
I4re would never know anything aboutIight if it were not for the vibra-
tlons traveling in all directions. In the same way we see colors, hear
sounds, feel heat, or feel cold.ness. Odors from fruit, perfumes, or
flowers, aII come to us in vibrations.
Lret us take the rose for
analogy as shown in the illustra-
tion. It is a composite of different
vibrations. The rose does not exist
only as color, shaPe, fragrance, or
velvety touch. It is, in fact, a
combination of a number of different
vibrations coming to our nose, eyes,
and fingers. Certain wavebands of
Iight reflected from the rose give
us its color, that is, cause us to
have an impression of color. TheY
also cause us to see the form of
the rose. Other vibrations enitted
from its oi} and carried bY the air
to our nostrils affect our olfactory sense, o? sense of smell. When
we touch the rose, there is produced by the vibrations of its substance
the quality or sensation of smoothness.
KNOWLEDGE So, Fratres and Sorores, we might go on and on
THR.OUGH VIBRATIONS with many simple and everyday examples to prove
that all we SEE, aII we HEAR, all we SMEITIT,
aII we TASIE, and all that we FEELr j.s the result of the vibrations
which pass from material things and trave| te s5-to our eyes, our
ears, our noses, our mouths, or to the flesh in ord.erto be felt. Tru}y,
then, we can say if it were not for VIBRATIONS we would not know that
anything EXISTED at a1I. Do you comprehend what we mean when we say that?
First, the EXISTENCE 0F MATTER depends upon Spirit vibrations
(for the vibrations of Spirit conpose all matter).
Second, our KNOWLEDGE 0F MATIER depends upon vibrations (for if
vibrations did not radiate to us from alI material things we would not
see, hear, fee1, taste, or smell anything that exists).
Truly a materiat thing might exist and yet you and I
would not know it if we could not see it, feel it, hear it,
taste it, or smell it. In that case the thing 14'0UIJD NOT EXIST
T0 US. In order that a thing may exist to us, its vibrations
Neophyte Section AMORC The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER THREE PAGE FTVE

mrst come to us and be realized. So this illustrates our next larv,

which you will please write in your notebooks:
NOTHING EXISTS TO US EXCEPT THBOUGH VIBRATIONS.

This is the great law which we wiII use and have nuch to do with
in future lessons. During the week keep this great law in mind and
see how many times it is easily proved to you.
PART TWO

Our statement made herewith, that everything which exists owes

its existence to vibrations, or to Spirit, is likely to bring to your
mind simllar statements which you may have heard or read in connection
with other philosophies. For instance, there is some thinking today
which claims, briefly, that neverything that exists is good because
it emanated from goodness and therefore all that seeus to be negative,
or composed of gross matter is only an illusion.x Furthermore, it
holds that trman's mortal, material mind is responsible for the illusion-
ary existence of so many things which man believes are real but which
arenot real,tr This is just adifferent way of saying the things that
you are being taught in your Iessons.
Remember that such phllosophy as Just quoted is in the abstract,
and purely philosophical in essence. Our lessons deal with the facts
and concrete principles pertaining thereto. It is one thing to say
nonly the universal essence exists and aII else is illusion, tr but it is
another thing to explain this statement in such a way and give such
illustrations and examples together with the experiments that the
student will be able to prove and demonstrate the statement hinself
and thereby know it from actuaL experience rather than fron mere
statement.
It is true that most of the things of the material world have no
real existence except as our consciousness interprets them. But to
say just this much, without further explanati.on, is llke saying that
God made aII things and that since God is good, therefore aII things
are good because all things are of God, and God is good and goodness
is God, and so on. This is only going around. in a circle and is not
demonstrable or proved by the way it is presented. For instance,
such a statement as I have Just quoted does not explain why we believe
or sense the existence of such a thing as evil.
To say that there is no evil or badness in this world is
simply to deny the existence of something" We may deny the
existence of evil as nn:ch as we please, Just as we may deny
Neophyte Section4 M O R C---'The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER THREE PAGE SIX

that we have a toothache. The denial itself, however, wiII not affect
the existence of evil any trore than it affects the existence of the
toothache. What we want to know is how evil seems to exist to us, or
appears to be so real to us, if it does not really exist at a}l; Just
as we want to know why we have aII the symptons and suffering of a tooth-
ache if we are good and nade in Godts image and, therefore, can have
no pain or suffering.
Such purely philosophical reasoning or quotations, as given
above, Ieave us wondering and in doubt, for they are not proved by
the mere reiteration of the premise that all that exists is of God and
is good. So we say that everything that exists does so because of
the Spirit energy in the universe, which is vibratory energy. There-
fore, you can realize one point of Rosicrucian contention-tlal t6
some persons certain things exist which do not exist to others.

Be sure to read this nonograph several times, especially the

last part of it; meditate upon it, and let it be your first lesson in
understanding the greater laws that will evolve your whole self to
greater understanding.
Fraternally,
YOI,R CIJASS MASTER
Neophyte Section4MORC .The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER THREE PAGE SEVEN

SEIJF-EXAMINAIION QUESTIONS

For your ourn benefit, try to answer the following questions. Do not
send the answers to the Grand Lrodge.
I. I4lhat is the first great principle underlying matter?
2. I4that is it that makes natter known to us?
5. Could you become conscious of the world without vibrations?
4. You have heard the expression nmind over matter. r
What does it mean?
MEMBERSHIP Though at this time you are stiII new on the glorious path
GROWTH of enlightenment and are just a Neophyte searching for the
truth that shall be yours, we request you to do one humble
favor for this organization.
Enclosed are sone Ieaflets which are conservative and dignified in
their statements. They are merely opportunities for those who are
now ready to receive the Light; and by properly placing them in the
hands of the seekers, or where they can be seen by them, you wiII be
helping not only the Order and its purposes, but yourself also. For,
as the principles in your nonograph wiII explain to you, we are com-
pensated on this plane according to the manner in which we conduct
ourselves; so, by helping in this simple way, we also help ourselves,
because the good we do is reflected upon us. Therefore, whenever you
know of one who is interested in subjects similar to the Rosicrucian
studies, in higher thought and self-improvement, give him one of these
Ieaflets, teII hiur what you know about the organization, and Iet him
write for the book entitled the Mastery of Life.
 The Weekly Application
Whatsoeuer thou resoluest to do, do it quic\ly. Def er not till the
euening what the morning may accomplish.-UNto THrB I Gnaxr

There are a number of simple little experiments which you can conduct at home
to prove the existence of vibrations, and the law of their functioning. Try the fol-
lowing during the week: Vibrations radiate in waves in all directions and not funda-
mentally in one direction. Sound vibrations or waves radiate in a manner similar to
the ripples of a pond when a stone is dropped upon the surface. Study this by drop-
ping a small coin in a large bowl of water. Vibrations of some nature affect all
things. Sound wavesr for example, frty be transmitted through solids as well as air.
Place one end of a stick to your ear and scratch the other end, and notice the sound.
Sound waves may cause other things to become in resonance or harmony with the
thing emitting the sound. Take two brass rods one-sixteenth of an ineh in diameter
and about one foot in length and suspend them from one end so they are not rigid,
having them separated about eight inches. Strike one rod forcibly with a metal ham-
mer. While the sound is at its maximum, grasp the other rod in your hand and feel its
quivering vibratory motion.
 Summary of This Monograph
VVV
Below is a summary of the important principles of this monograph. It contains the essential
statements which you should not forget. After you have carefully read the complete mono-
graph, try to recall as many as you can of the important points you read. Then read this
summary and see if you have forgotten any. Also refer to this summary during the ensuing
week to refresh your memory.

q There are two forms or natures of vibrations: those which emanate from the uni-
versal force or energy of the universe, and those which are set into motion by mental
impulses.
q All matter, whatever its nature, owes its existence to the elements which compose it.
q The first great principle or power behind the elements of matter is SPIRIT.
q Spirit radiates throughout all space. fts radiations are in the form of vibrations.
Every material thing is composed of this VIBRATING SPIRIT and all things
themselves vibrate.
q The number of vibrations determines the nature of a thing. It is the vibrations of
matter which make it known to us.
q Everything we perceive is but vibration. Our whole knowledge of existence depends
on our sensing these vibrations through sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell.